Palace coup beckons for homeboys

Finally tomorrow will usher in a new dawn in boxing when either young blood takes over or the old guard remains defiant.

This when the inaugural Featherweight Super Four Series punches off at Emperors Palace.

Two prospects Azinga Fuzile and Lerato Dlamini will come up against Tshifiwa Munyai and Simpiwe Vetyeka respectively.

There is no doubt that the hopes of the Eastern Cape, specifically East London, rest on Fuzile, who hails from Duncan Village, and the Mdantsane-based Vetyeka.

So much has been said about the four boxers on social media with fans basing their predictions and wishes on the boxers’ perceived weaknesses and strength.

We will therefore analyse the strength and weaknesses that may play a crucial role in determining the outcome.

TSHIFIWA MUNYAI

Age: 32

Fights: 33

Wins: 28

Losses: 4

Draw: 1

Trainer: Warren Hulley

Strength: There are boxers who enter the ring, purely for their past achievements and Munyai might just be one of them. The Limpopo boxer was the best boxing export of this country when he used England as his second home – with notable wins against that country’s prospects.

He kept beating up every opposition put in front of him until he lost to a Ghana-born boxer Osumanu Akaba.

While he seemed to carry his technique up to the junior-featherweights, when he signed promotional rights with East London promoter, Mamali Promotions, it was clear that he was not as sharp as he used to be in the bantamweights.

Now Munyai campaigns in the featherweights – and is up against a young star in Fuzile. His experience may put him in good stead and there are few local people who are backing him to win.

Weaknesses: Already Munyai is said to be taking Fuzile lightly judging by his comments coming from his camp. The Limpopo boxer is said to be even questioning the experience of Fuzile’s corner going as far as accusing Fuzile of faking the injury he claimed to have suffered against Maemu.

That attitude alone will be his undoing if he is already dismissing Fuzile, instead of paying the closest attention to him.

If he is taking Fuzile like any other opponent he is in for a rude awakening because he will discover that he is a different kettle of fish altogether.